Seattle Shakespeare Company announces their 2014-2015 outdoor and indoor season

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director George Mount has announced the company's programming plans for 2014-2015 that includes their annual summer Wooden O Shakespeare in the Parks, expanding to five plays for their indoor season, the return of directors Jon Kretzu and John Langs, and the mainstage directing debuts of Desdemona Chiang and Makaela Pollock.

'Many of the projects in this coming season have been in the works for several years,' said Mount. 'It was really a matter of timing and getting the right pieces in place. For the indoor season, the plays coalesce around the theme of 'Lead Us Into Temptation' since desire, both playful and sinister, are a factor in each show.'

The free, outdoor Wooden O shows for summer 2014 will be The Two Gentlemen of Verona directed by David Quicksall and Julius Caesar directed by Vanessa Miller. 'Both David and Vanessa are Wooden O veterans, and they know the demands it takes to create a great experience in the parks,' said Mount. The Two Gentlemen of Verona will draw its setting from mid-century America while Julius Caesar will feature an all-female cast set in a contemporary world on the brink of war. The shows will start performances on July 10, 2014 and perform in parks in Mercer Island, Sammamish, Seattle, Lynnwood, Edmonds, SeaTac, Issaquah, Shoreline and other cities. All performances are free and open to the public with donations encouraged at the site. Each show will finish their run with a week of performances in Walla Walla.

Seattle Shakespeare Company will expand its indoor programming by adding a fifth full production to its roster. Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot will be produced at the Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre September 3-21, 2014.

'Godot is a play I've wanted to direct for a long time, and I specifically wanted to direct it at ACT,' said Mount. 'I've been working for almost three years with a group of artists to help realize this production, and I'm very excited that we can kick off our indoor season with this play that could arguably be the most influential play of the 20th century. And, we've got some very exciting city-wide partners and events related to Beckett in the works.'

Samuel Beckett introduced the world to Vladimir and Estragon in Waiting for Godot, when much of humankind lived in fear of nuclear annihilation. Since then these two clowns, as well as their fellow travelers Pozzo and Lucky, have led the way in taking one falteringly dangerous step after another into an unknown future.

Shakespeare's sparkling comedy Twelfth Night will be directed by Jon Kretzu, October 21-November 16, 2014, at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. 'I'm so happy to welcome back Jon who showed us the charm and delight in Love's Labour's Lost in 2013,' said Mount. 'I know he's interested in playing with both the twinkle of Twelfth Night as well as the darker tones of the play.'

Desdemona Chiang will direct Measure for Measure, January 6-February 1, 2015, at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. 'Desdemona is an artist whose work really caught my attention, and I look forward to introducing her to our fans,' said Mount. 'Measure for Measure is a play that raises hard questions and doesn't provide any easy answers, and I'm counting on Desdemona to hold us to the fire for this one.'

Moliere's Tartuffe will be directed by Makaela Pollock, March 17-April 12, 2015, at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. 'Tartuffe is a crazy tale of a swindler who cons his way into a family's household, and Moliere skewers false morality with great gusto,' said Mount. 'I worked with Makaela for the 2012 Wooden O production of Twelfth Night, and I think her zany sensibilities will be spot on for the play.'

Othello will be the final play in the company's indoor season. It will be directed by John Langs, April 22-May 10, 2015, at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. 'John doesn't shy away from bringing a big vision of Shakespeare's plays to the stage,' said Mount. 'Time and time again he's wowed our audiences, and I can't wait see what he'll bring to bear on Othello since it's a firecracker of a play.'

Seattle Shakespeare Company will also tour two 6-actor Shakespeare productions to approximately 60 schools and communities across Washington state in the spring of 2015.

Season ticket packages will go on sale in mid-March and range from $94 to $204 for all five indoor productions. Season ticket packages can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (206) 733-8222 or online at www.seattleshakespeare.org. Single tickets for all five productions will go on sale July 2014 and range from $25-$48 per ticket.

2014 WOODEN O FREE OUTDOOR SEASON

The Two Gentlemen of Verona
By William Shakespeare
Directed by David Quicksall
July 10-August 10, 2014 at park locations throughout King and Snohomish Counties
Best pals Valentine and Proteus find themselves rivals for the affections of the beautiful Silvia while Julia, Proteus' forgotten gal, hatches a plan to win back her man. As the two gents play out their foolish ideas of love, their servants Speed and Launce create a comic contest of their own in a hilarious battle of wits. This mid-century take on the impulsive nature of romance will win your heart.

Julius Caesar
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Vanessa Miller
July 10-August 2, 2014 at park locations throughout King and Snohomish Counties
An all-female production of this swift and enthralling political thriller portrays the life-and-death struggle for power in Rome. Fearing that a charismatic leader's ambitions threaten the fragile state of affairs, a group of leaders plot to assassinate him. Caesar's death sends the city into chaos, creating factions of power alliances. This striking examination of power's intoxicating effects will leave you breathless.

2014-2015 INDOOR SEASON

Waiting for Godot
By Samuel Beckett
Directed by George Mount
September 3-21, 2014
Performed at the Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre
A lonely tree at the junction of a dirt road, on a day indistinguishable from any other day, two vagabond souls anxiously wait for their appointed meeting. They bicker, wheedle, tease, ponder, wonder and hold fast to anything that will give them a cause to live until the next day. Samuel Beckett introduced us to Vladimir and Estragon when the world lived in fear of nuclear annihilation. Since then these two clowns, as well as their fellow travelers Pozzo and Lucky, have helped us take one falteringly dangerous step after another into an unknown future.

Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Jon Kretzu
October 21-November 16, 2014
Performed at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center
Love lost. Love found. Love turned upside down. Shakespeare's sparkling comedy turns desire on its ear when shipwrecked twins Viola and Sebastian roam Illyria stirring up attraction and distraction wherever they go. Orsino loves Olivia, but she pays him no mind. Olivia loves Viola, whom she's mistaken for a boy. Viola loves Orsino, and he has no idea she's a girl. Toby Belch, Andrew, Feste and Maria love playing pranks on Malvolio who is in love with love (and himself). Strange romance gives way to a miracle in this rollicking comedy of misplaced longing.

Measure for Measure
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Desdemona Chiang
January 6-February 1, 2015
Performed at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center
Left to clean up a city rampant with corruption, Angelo lays down the law sentencing a young man, Claudio, to death for impregnating his own girlfriend Juliet before marriage. Angelo's particular moral weaknesses surface when Claudio's sister, Isabella, a novice nun, pleads for her brother's life. For Angelo, Isabella's beauty and piety hold an erotic charm and he presents her with a shocking proposition. How far will Isabella go to save her brother's life? Who has true authority to judge another? Shakespeare offers no easy answers in this dark comedy of desires.

Tartuffe
By Moliere
Directed by Makaela Pollock
March 17-April 12, 2015
Performed at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center
Orgon's household is under the influence of a seductive swindler named Tartuffe. This cunning con man, masquerading as a holy man, plans to dupe the gullible Orgon out of his fortune, his daughter, and his reputation. The pious grifter can do no wrong in his host's eyes, yet everyone else in the household smells a rat. Just when the jig is up, Tartuffe ups the stakes and the charm. Moliere's laugh-out-loud funny tale of deception, hypocrisy, and power shish-kabobs false morality.

Othello
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Langs
April 22-May 10, 2015
Performed at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center
Military leader Othello passes over his ensign, Iago, for a promotion in favor of young Cassio. Seeking revenge, master manipulator Iago seeds Othello's mind with mistrust for his new bride Desdemona. The lies spread like wildfire clouding Othello's vision for what is true and what is false. The flame of jealousy fills him with self-doubt, destroying his once-happy marriage. With soaring language and psychological depth, Shakespeare creates a highly charged tale that roars to a crashing conclusion.

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